Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 78, sponsored by the Water, Forest Health Grant Program, an act relating to state forestry
• House Bill 78, Forest Health Grant Program, was re-referred to Committee No. 2, Appropriations. Mr.
• </c> had said in the amendment, the grant had said in the amendment, the grant program<00:56:12.640><
• Being a grant program, there won't be a concern.
• Being a grant program, there won't be a concern.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Grant: Thank you for that, and I understand that this is a very divisive issue.
• Representative Grant: Thank you for that, and I understand that this is a very divisive issue.
• Representative Grant: Thank you for that, and I understand that this is a very divisive issue.
• Representative Grant: Thank you for that, and I understand that this is a very divisive issue.
• He's 16, finishing high school through the early college program.

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Inventories the administration of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and coordination with fiscally
• The housing mitigation grant program and the likelihood that they are going to change how that program
• Brownfield programs have been... Successful.
• WHEN THE BOARD TERMINATES THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR HAS FAILED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE BOARD
• THE PROGRAM ITSELF, WHETHER IT'S THE DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM HAS GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Rules, to whom was referred concurrently the Senate order relative to granting the Committee
• Report of the Committee on Rules to whom was referred the Senate order relative to granting the Committee
• enrolled in Retirement Plus program receive enhanced retirement calculations with an additional 2% on
• The program automatically enrolled most teachers hired after July 1, 2001, but required teachers hired
• Their lives are turned upside down, and they're in a regular program for treatment where they have to

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, adopted two resolutions recognizing the town of Sturbridge on the nation’s 250th anniversary and congratulating Zachary Erich on becoming an Eagle Scout, and then took up several committee reports and extension orders. The chamber suspended rules multiple times to act immediately on committee extensions for Financial Services and State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, and it referred a House petition on cleft lip and cleft palate treatment to Financial Services. Members also adopted an order extending the Financial Services committee’s reporting deadline on credit union and mortgage financing matters. The Senate then considered and passed House No. 4361, a bill on teacher retirement benefits, after extensive debate in support of a one-time window for certain teachers who were excluded from Retirement Plus due to administrative errors. Senators described the measure as a long-overdue fix for more than 8,500 educators, noting that eligible teachers would have to pay the difference in contributions. The bill was ordered to a third reading, passed to be engrossed by a 39-0 roll call, and sent on for further action. The chamber also passed Senate No. 3106 on toxic-free medical devices and Senate No. 3107 on commercial interior design licensure, both after supportive remarks about patient safety and professional regulation. A major item was the conference committee report on H. 5280, the FY26 fair share supplemental budget. Supporters highlighted funding for municipal winter relief, MBTA operations and capital needs, education initiatives, housing incentives, home heating assistance, and collective bargaining agreements, while opponents raised concerns about MBTA subsidies, legal defense funding, and tax policy implications. After roll call, the report was approved by a 37-3 vote. The Senate also adopted the emergency preamble and passed H. 5470, the FY26 supplemental appropriations bill, and later enacted local bills including Berkeley recall authority, a Milton school deadline extension, a Lexington parkland exchange, and long-term municipal roads and bridges financing. Near the end of the session, the Senate recognized guests from the Caribbean diplomatic corps and the Authentic Caribbean Foundation, who spoke about Caribbean American Heritage Month and partnership agreements with Massachusetts. The chamber then concurred in a House amendment to Senate No. 2563, a bill updating disability-related terminology in the general laws, with senators emphasizing the importance of person-first language and dignity for people with disabilities. The Senate adopted the emergency preamble and enacted the bill. The session concluded with an adjournment order to meet again the following Monday and with adjournment in memory of Richard Louis Volpe of Sturbridge.

Transcript Highlights:

• The TAP program is fully programmed.
• And the intent, as I understand it, of that bill is to establish rules and a grant program at DES that
• </c><03:21:01.520><c> dees</c><03:21:02.319><c> that</c> and a grant program at the at dees that and
• a grant program at the at dees that would<03:21:02.880><c> be</c><03:21:03.120><c> available</c><03:21
• . program. program.

Committee: House Public Works and Highways

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The final program is the Emergency Services Program.
• </c> the holistic health and fitness program the holistic health and fitness program um<00:09:03.959>
• </c><00:09:44.720><c> for</c> funding the largest program for funding the largest program for dma<00:
• I'm going to go back to the Programs and Services program, which again is the smaller of the programs
• support and another MACV program.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Program, I'm in front of this committee today because it also makes a policy change to the program.
• </c> this program, and also that program this program, and also that program requirements<00:04:25.560
• this program and other programs for these small communities.
• this program and other programs for these small communities.
• Kitzberger, responsible land use and growth strategies when scoring grant applications for this program

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> summer EBT program. summer EBT program.
• </c> program pretty exclusively. program pretty exclusively.
• how this program how this program is<00:18:16.799><c> successful.
• Um and we're looking to program.
• Those gift card property program.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the June 20, 2025 minutes, with several members abstaining, and then adopted the consent calendar after removing items 223 and 224 under tab five, item 222 under tab six, and item 231 under tab seven. The committee also noted that an old business item related to YDC claims administration would be removed at a future meeting because the fiscal year had closed and no further committee action was needed. The main substantive discussion centered on Department of Health and Human Services requests. Item FIS-223 would fund a shared database between the Department of Education and HHS to identify children eligible for the summer EBT program; members asked whether it could also help with Medicaid or school reimbursement tracking, but the witness said the item was specifically for summer EBT and that broader integration questions would need follow-up with Education and Medicaid staff. The committee then adopted the item, with Representative Mooney voting no. Item FIS-224 concerned the phrase "high quality services" in child care-related funding; HHS said the standards come from the federal Office of Child Care, and the committee adopted the item. Item FIS-222 related to Money Follows the Person; HHS explained it is a 100% federally funded program that supports transitions from institutions to community living with services such as housing navigation, furnishings, and case management. Members questioned the scale and cost of the program, and HHS said the initial federal award was $5 million, with additional federal IT funding later approved; the committee adopted the item, again with Representative Mooney voting no. Under tab seven, the committee discussed item 231 involving ARPA funds and the YDC project. The Department of Administrative Services explained that recent Treasury guidance allows leftover ARPA dollars from approved projects to be repurposed only for additional work on already approved projects, not new projects. Members asked about whether the project was over budget and whether some items had been in the original plan; officials said the work reflected add alternates from the original bid and that the project was on track to meet the deadline. The committee adopted the item. The meeting then moved to the audit presentation on the New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s fiscal year 2024 management letter, which identified 13 internal control comments, including two material weaknesses, largely tied to the new NextG system. Recommendations included strengthening controls, formal risk assessment, reconciliations to New Hampshire First, cash receipt controls, subsidiary ledgers, SOC reports for vendors, internal audit functions, lease accounting, gift card breakage reporting, and IT security and access controls. The Liquor Commission said it concurred with most findings, described the system transition as successful overall, and said remediation would continue; committee members asked for estimated completion dates for audit findings and discussed the need for more regular follow-up on audit issues and budget monitoring.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm representing the Bankers for a Sustainable IOTA Program.
• They are almost 100% funded by banks and grants.
• A strong and fair IOTA program makes that possible.
• I feel like it is a voluntary program for the banks.
• now in the state of Texas program.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and considered several bills. SB 106 on exploitation of vulnerable adults would allow service of process on scammers through the same nontraditional communication methods they use; it passed 8-0. CS/SB 280 on candidate qualification would create an enforceable party-affiliation requirement and a private right of action to disqualify noncompliant candidates; it passed unanimously. CS/SB 948 on flood disclosures was amended to extend disclosure requirements to residential leases, condo developer leases, and mobile homes, with tenant remedies if disclosures are not provided and flooding causes major losses; it passed 8-0. The committee also advanced CS/SB 498 on IOTA interest rates after a lengthy debate over legal aid funding and bank regulation. Supporters argued the bill would restore sustainability and fairness to the program by setting alternative interest-rate benchmarks, while opponents said it would cut funding for civil legal aid and that banks participate voluntarily. After testimony from legal aid leaders and bankers, the bill passed 7-2. SB 774, requiring clerks to electronically transmit certain mental health, substance abuse, and risk protection orders to sheriffs within six hours, was presented in response to a fatal Volusia County incident and passed 11-0. CS/SB 752 on defamation and online publication was amended to require removal from a website rather than the internet, then passed 8-2 after testimony from the media, a private attorney, and supporters who said it would help people harmed by false online reports. The committee also heard SB 832 on former phosphate mining lands, which would create a narrow defense against strict liability claims if notice and gamma radiation survey requirements are met. The bill was amended to clarify notice provisions and received support from industry and technical witnesses describing radiation surveys and reclamation practices. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on SB 832, so no committee action on that bill is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Military veterans and beginning farmers and ranchers through programs such as the Council for Healthy
• Food Systems Groundwork program, the Agrib Battleground Breaking Ground program, and we trained about
• The problem we have with that is under the agency, the egg grading program is a cost recovery program
• Say $100 now we're passing $50 on to the grader because it's a cost recovery program.
• Currently, Uh, we have 501 licenseses under the egg program.

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Transcript Highlights:

• audits, the requirement that surplus properties be prioritized for land banks, and the competitive grant
• program administered by the Housing Finance Commission.
• audits, the requirement that surplus properties be prioritized for land banks, and the competitive grant
• program administered by the Housing Finance Commission.
• The new mortgage lending authority granted by the bill is intended solely to streamline financing for

Summary: The House Housing Committee met to executive several bills, with staff outlining proposed substitutes and key changes before members took a caucus break. House Bill 1974, the land bank bill, was described as removing several original provisions such as county authorization requirements, advisory boards, planning strategies, annual audits, surplus-property prioritization, and a grant program, while adding annual reporting and a real estate excise tax exemption. House Bill 2118, which would limit common interest community associations from imposing more restrictive use covenants than those in place when a unit was acquired, had no amendments but was not moved forward at this time. House Bill 2236, dealing with Housing Finance Commission authority, was explained as clarifying that the commission may not act as a retail mortgage lender or make loans for owner-occupied home purchases or refinancing, except for certain down-payment assistance loans, while adding an intent section to emphasize that the commission is not meant to compete with private lenders. Members debated whether removing language about using public funds could create taxpayer risk or a de facto state bank, but supporters said the changes modernize outdated law and clarify the commission’s role. House Bill 2269, concerning middle housing and on-site sewage systems in LAMIRDs, would restore broader county authority for middle housing in LAMIRDs while limiting sewage-system options based on whether the county is rural or non-rural. The committee voted to report House Bill 1974 out with a due pass recommendation by a 10-7 vote, with several members opposing or voting without recommendation over tax concerns. House Bill 2236 also passed out of committee with a due pass recommendation by a 13-4 vote after similar debate over public-funds language. House Bill 2269 passed unanimously by voice vote, and the committee adjourned after completing its executive action.

Transcript Highlights:

• physicians, physician assistants, and psychology are part of our Rural Healthcare Transformation Program
• This was the grant that was recently approved at the end of December.
• With the federal government, stipulations in this grant require that if these contracts don't get passed
• makes careful, cost-effective policy choices, these compacts expand access without creating new programs
• Madam Chair, Representative, I believe in the rural health programs that they were debating in Washington

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The most meaningful work of my career has been working alongside first-generation, Pell Grant-eligible
• So I learned when I returned to the college here that it's a great program.
• So I learned when I return to the college here that it's a great program.
• So we have a culture of care, and we are really developing our programs around what the needs of our
• We have a $25.5 million increase in operating funds for school district workforce education programs,

Bills: S1694

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: technology education, digital literacy, artificial intelligence, computer science, high school graduation

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met with a quorum present and first took up CS for SB 1694, which would require technology-integrated postsecondary general education core courses to include digital literacy and competency instruction, including use of artificial intelligence tools, and encourage high school computer science courses with AI content to teach how AI systems use data, their benefits and limitations, and responsible use in academic and personal contexts. The bill drew support from several speakers who emphasized the need for students to understand AI’s capabilities, limitations, ethics, and risks, while one speaker raised concerns about overreliance on AI and the loss of skills. Senator Davis said the bill was a good step toward preparing the future workforce and suggested earlier instruction might be worth considering later. The bill was reported favorably, and Senator Leek asked to be recorded in the affirmative. The committee then heard a long series of confirmation presentations for trustees at multiple Florida colleges and universities, including Tallahassee State College, USF, UNF, Palm Beach State College, the College of the Florida Keys, Hillsborough College, Miami-Dade College, Florida A&M University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, Florida Polytechnic University, and the University of Florida. The appointees generally emphasized student success, workforce alignment, fiscal responsibility, access and affordability, and institutional growth; several members and senators offered supportive comments, with some asking about specific issues such as Tallahassee State’s NCLEX passage rates and the need for continued improvement. One appointee’s attendance was delayed or skipped for later consideration, but the committee ultimately took a block vote and reported the confirmations favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee. Finally, Chair Harrell gave a brief overview of the higher education budget, describing a total of $11.9 billion and highlighting increases for workforce education, Florida College System operating funds, workforce development capitalization, the Rural Incentive for Professional Educators program, the USF Center for Nursing, preeminent research universities, UCF’s community school grant program, UF’s Lassinger Center on Learning, the Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, and campus security through a postsecondary guardian program. Senator Davis asked about a transfer related to the workforce development capitalization and incentive grant fund, and the chair explained it was a transfer of an existing program with new funds being added. There was no public comment on the budget, and the meeting adjourned after Senator Leek requested to be recorded in the affirmative on SB 1694.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also the state administering authority for several federal grants.
• Is where legal aid is managing that corporation said the or program?
• But the uh, Lucoats program through the FFA program for doctors to get doctors in rural areas.
• Lastly, is the RAP program.
• There's 5.5 million left to fully fund that program across the state.

Committee: House A&B Judiciary Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and outdoor nature-based programs.
• Our school-age programs are definitely increasing month by month.
• , pre-development grants from Enterprise, and other sources.
• What's the current street program?
• What's the current street program?

Summary: The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson explained that these codes emphasize building form, orientation, and the public realm more than traditional use and density tables, and that they are typically applied in specific districts rather than citywide or statewide. Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby described the city’s Woodland District code, developed through community charrettes, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards to create a walkable downtown. She said the approach has helped produce a more desirable built environment and more flexibility in permitted uses, but also noted it can be less user-friendly for applicants and still requires some use restrictions; both presenters said a hybrid approach is often best. The committee then heard from DCYF and multiple providers about barriers to opening child care facilities. DCYF officials said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed providers and that a new pre-licensing support team is helping applicants navigate licensing, but local zoning, building, fire, parking, utility, and occupancy requirements still create delays and confusion. Testifiers described long permitting timelines, inconsistent local interpretations, costly upgrades, and utility hookup delays; one Yakima provider said county requirements, a floodplain-related elevation certificate, and a private well issue stopped her in-home child care proposal, while others described traffic impact fees, parking mandates, and zoning barriers that made projects infeasible. Enterprise Community Partners highlighted examples of successful local reforms, including fee waivers, expedited permitting, and zoning changes in several cities, and DCYF said it is working toward a 2026 action plan and a resource guide for providers. In the final section, planners and developers discussed how street standards and frontage improvement requirements can undermine infill and middle housing. Poulsbo’s planning manager said current standards were designed for greenfield subdivisions and often force costly curb, gutter, sidewalk, stormwater, and utility upgrades on small infill sites, sometimes adding tens of thousands of dollars and causing projects to be abandoned. A Seattle-based developer made similar points about small middle-housing projects being burdened by frontage work, curb ramps, buried standards, and EV-ready parking requirements that can trigger expensive undergrounding. Committee members asked about possible state-level changes, including whether child care should be treated as an essential public facility and whether parking requirements had already been reduced; one senator noted that minimum parking requirements for child care facilities were eliminated in prior legislation, with implementation phased in over the next few years.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the RFP and the original grant documents both gave until December 15th, 2026.
• original grant documents both gave until December<00:03:13.320><c> 15th,</c><00:03:13.800><c> 2026.
• </c><00:03:27.320><c> So,</c><00:03:28.120><c> um</c> were granted. So, um were granted.
• </c><00:04:11.120><c> this</c> that Ramsey County was even granted this that Ramsey County was even granted
• This bill makes changes to the Department of Corrections MinCorp program.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 1082, which was being handled as the committee budget bill. Members first reconsidered and then adopted the previously approved DE4 amendment so the bill could be updated with a new amendment package. The committee then adopted several amendments, including A4, a technical reviser’s amendment; A3, which added LELS representatives to a task force related to House File 3095; and A9, which extended a spending deadline for a Ramsey County appropriation tied to dual status youth/crossover youth programming. Vice Chair Feist said the deadline change was needed because the original grant timing had been shortened, and she also criticized delays in spending youth justice funds. The committee also adopted A11, which Chair Mohler described as language previously seen in the domestic violence policy/task force bill, narrowed from an indefinite period to 28 days and then to 14 days for the gun-on-arrival arrest provision. A12 was then adopted to continue work on Department of Corrections changes related to the MinCorp program from House File 4031. A Department of Corrections representative explained that a disputed provision no longer used a percentage but instead used a ratio, and that the language reflected stakeholder agreement; a member confirmed the relevant line numbers and raised no objection. After the amendments were adopted, the committee withdrew the DE4 version, adopted the DE6 amendment as amended, and then re-referred House File 1082 as amended to the Ways and Means Committee. All motions were approved by voice vote, with no recorded opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• AT PK WE HAVE LAUNCHED A NEW HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM PATHWAY.
• THE DESIGN OF OUR PROGRAM IS TWOFOLD.
• I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THE NURSING PROGRAM.
• THE PROGRAM STAFF WILL CONDUCT PRE-MADE AND POST SURVEYS TO COLLECT PROGRAM DATA REGARDING CAREER PATHWAYS
• TOP TALENT WE HAVE CREATED THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR PROGRAM.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , which provides high-quality, evidence-based diversion programming.
• In fact, in 2024, 50% of the cases referred to the program were for assault and battery.
• And the success rate of the program is quite high, with 88% of youth completing the program in 2024.
• So this means that the NYDP stands available as a real... ...the program in 2024.
• I so fully support the protections granted by this law.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing began with opening remarks from the House and Senate chairs outlining procedures for a large public hearing with more than 100 witnesses on 64 legislative proposals. They explained time limits, rules for in-person and virtual testimony, written testimony procedures, and the committee’s reporting deadline. Testimony then moved through a series of juvenile justice, child protection, and civil liberties bills, with witnesses generally urging favorable reports or, in one case, opposing expanded juvenile court transparency and child advocate access to records. Several witnesses supported bills aimed at juvenile justice reform. Representative Hendricks backed H. 1744 to prevent child labor exploitation and trafficking, citing federal findings of child labor in seafood processing and calling for stronger penalties and a ban on minors working in such facilities. Senator Gomez supported S. 1131 and S. 1121 to reduce juvenile fees, fines, restitution burdens, and bail-related costs, arguing they worsen racial and economic disparities. Senator Crean and other advocates supported S. 1051/H. 1695 to expand juvenile diversion eligibility, while multiple witnesses from juvenile justice and immigrant advocacy groups supported H. 1657/S. 1058 to expand juvenile expungement and to limit sharing juvenile fingerprints with federal authorities, describing recent ICE detentions of Chelsea students and the resulting fear in immigrant communities. Witnesses also supported H. 1918/S. 1240 to narrow the youthful offender statute, raising the minimum age and reducing mandatory adult-style penalties for youth. The committee also heard testimony on child safety and bodily autonomy bills. Middlesex District Attorney Marion Ryan supported H. 1752 to protect children left in extreme temperatures, explaining it would create civil penalties, allow emergency responders to remove children from cars without liability, and add criminal penalties when serious injury results. Representative Thurber and Senator O’Connor testified for H. 2011/S. 1227, a bill prohibiting coercion or mandates for health-related interventions, including vaccinations, and allowing legal remedies for violations. Senator Jalen supported S. 1136/H. 1847 to prevent false confessions by requiring recording of interrogations and banning deceptive tactics, and several innocence-project and legal-services witnesses described wrongful convictions tied to false confessions and coercive interrogations. Another major topic was H. 1626, which would require age verification for pornographic content and launch an education campaign about online sexual exploitation; Representative Cruz and survivor Udoz Wallace testified in support, describing nonconsensual image sharing and deepfake harms. Not all testimony was supportive. The Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed S. 1035, which would increase transparency in juvenile court proceedings, and H. 1689, which would expand the child advocate’s access to confidential juvenile records, arguing both would undermine privacy and trauma-informed protections for children and families. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the session consisted of opening remarks and public testimony on the listed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• The body across the hall basically said this refund program is going to be too much work.
• </c><00:53:54.720><c> that</c> would be to have a refund program that would be to have a refund program
• </c><00:54:06.640><c> is</c> basically said this refund program is basically said this refund program
• </c> compromise to switch the refund program compromise to switch the refund program for<00:54:39.359
• The Speaker granted 15 minutes.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not grant these companies any special treatment.
• It does not grant these companies any special treatment.
• I'm the Transportation Program Director for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, a nonprofit working
• I think it's time that New Mexico get with the program and get with the rest of the country and pass
• It’s established already, which is easily allowable, and it would fund either through a grant or even

Bills: SB22 , SB310

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 22, which would allow certain motor vehicle manufacturers, including electric vehicle companies, to be licensed as dealers in New Mexico and sell/service directly to consumers. Supporters, including the sponsor’s office, Taxation and Revenue, Rivian, and clean-energy advocates, argued the bill would expand consumer choice, lower prices, improve EV access and service in-state, and bring new investment and jobs without eliminating existing franchise dealers. Opponents, including auto dealer associations, chambers of commerce, and franchise owners, argued the measure would weaken the franchise system, harm local businesses and jobs, reduce community reinvestment, and could disadvantage rural and tribal communities. After questions about trade-ins, tribal land sales, tax effects, and economic impacts, the committee voted to table SB 22 by a vote of 7-2. The committee then took up Senate Bill 310, which appropriates $1.1 million to the New Mexico Environment Department for planning, design, and construction improvements to the Mora mutual domestic water system. Supporters described aging water and wastewater infrastructure, an AOC related to discharge into the Mora River, flood and fire impacts, and heavy-metal contamination concerns in private wells. They said the project is part of a larger effort to address inflow and infiltration, improve treatment capacity, and protect public health, with additional funding already sought through the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and the Water Trust Board. Some senators questioned whether the request should instead go through existing water funding programs and raised concerns about piecemeal financing and the Environment Department’s role, but others supported the need for the project. The committee approved SB 310 on a 5-3 due-pass vote.